Modular multistorey robotized car park

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the field of construction and relates to the design of a modular multi-storey car park for vehicles in urban environments. Such car parks can be built and used in environments where there is dense existing urban development. 
     The technical result is achieved by producing a modular multi-storey robotized car, in which the car park module is in the form of at least two working modules ( 1 ), each of which comprises a movable frame ( 5 ) with at least one upper and one lower supporting platform ( 8 ), said movable frame being arranged inside an immovable frame ( 6 ) on guides ( 7 ) in such a way as to enable reciprocal movement in vertical direction, wherein the upper and lower supporting platform ( 8 ) of a movable frame ( 5 ) are equipped with stops for limiting the movement of the vehicle, while a hoist is in the form of a robotized drive mechanism ( 3 ), which is arranged on the movable platform ( 14 ), which is installed at the entranceways ( 11 ), provided on the lower part ( 16 ) of the immovable frame ( 6 ), in a tunnel ( 12 ) formed beneath the lower supporting platforms, with the option of interacting with any of the working modules ( 1 ) so as to actuate said modules.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of construction and relates to the design of a modular multi-storey car park for vehicles in urban environments. Such car parks can be built and used in environments where there is dense existing urban development.

A number of cars in towns and cities are constantly growing from year to year, that is why the solution to the problem of parking and vehicle keeping in urban environments is of extreme importance.

Producing underground modular multi-storey car parks of different designs is one of the ways of solving the problem involved.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a known automated hoist equipped garage which comprises modules with boxes for car arrangement along which there is a corridor provided with movable footings for letting the cars in or out of the boxes.

The tunnels are located on both sides of the corridor in one or several rows, in one or several levels.

A hoist is arranged at one end of the corridor or to the one of its sides and can be equipped with a turntable for entry and exit of vehicles from the garage. (European patent

EP0547552, IPC E04H 6/18, 1993).

There is a known multi-room underground car park which has a rigid framework dug into the ground and equipped with a supporting bottom and a cover with an aperture for vehicle supply and delivery; a supporting carcass on the basis of structural columns which is arranged inside the specified framework and has two vertical rows of pairwise opposite parking places attached overhung to the columns at least in two levels of horizontal projections, and a central aperture between the parking places, a hoist.

(Patent RF

78246, IPC E04H 6/18, 2008)

In the known arrangement a hoist is kinematically attached to the carcass and is located in the above mentioned central aperture. Herein, the hoist is performed in the form of a rigid frame with the drive of its reciprocal vertical movement and contains a cart with an inventory pan for fixing cars during parking/giving which is arranged on the frame and supplied with the drive of reciprocal horizontal movement.

Regarding technical substance and the achieved technical result a multi-storey apparatus for car parking containing an inter-level hoist with a two-section load-bearing platform for car placement and a mechanism for changing direction of car horizontal movements is the closest to the invention.

On each level the main parking places abut pairwise to the sides of the load-bearing platform from mutually orthogonal directions.

Additional parking areas can also be attached pairwise to the above mentioned ones.

The mechanism for changing direction of the car horizontal movement is performed in the form of a turntable or a drive truck with a node of its wheels in one of the two mutually orthogonal positions.

The disadvantages of the known technical decisions of the underground modular multistory car parks are:

-   -   sophisticated structures which demand costly planning and         engineering surveys;     -   inefficient usage of underground areas under parking lots;     -   inability to modernize and enlarge parking areas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The problem to be solved is to increase the structural reliability and operating efficiency of multi-storey car parks.

The technical result of the invention offered is achieved by producing a modular multi-storey robotized car park containing at least one module for vehicle parking and a hoist, in which, according to the invention, the car park module is in the form of at least two working modules each of which comprises a movable frame with at least one upper and one lower supporting platform, said movable frame being arranged inside an immovable frame on guides in such a way as to enable reciprocal movement in vertical direction, wherein the upper and lower supporting platform of a movable frame are equipped with stops for limiting the movement of the vehicle, while a hoist is in the form of a robotized drive mechanism, which is arranged on the movable platform (14), which is installed at the entranceways, provided on the lower part of the immovable frame in a tunnel formed beneath the lower supporting platforms, with the option of interacting with any of the working modules so as to actuate said modules.

The usage in the offered system of at least two working modules for parking enables to apply a robotized lifting mechanism in it, with the option of interacting with any of the working modules so as to actuate said modules.

The additional provision of a movable frame of a working module with counterbalances makes it possible to reduce the load imposed on the robotized lifting mechanism.

Besides, at least one vehicle movement supper is in the form of an angular limiter and at least one is horizontal, like a “speed hump”. It allows a car to be parked accurately and locked at the safe distance from the upper platform edges.

The hoist in the form of a robotized drive mechanism arranged on the movable platform at the entranceways in the tunnel formed beneath the lower supporting platforms allows interacting with any of the working modules.

The provision of the robotized drive mechanism with duplicated dives of mechanism lifting and positioning is necessary for a sudden failure prevention of the whole system.

The additional provision of a modular car park with at least one service module ensures the facility maintenance and allows evacuation to be carried out in cases of emergency.

Besides, a rigid framework coated with water-proof insulation is laid along the perimeter of the facility.

The technical result ensured by the entire set of essential features of the apparatus offered, includes the following:

-   -   operational capabilities rise due to the parking capacity         increase without an extension of outside space and arranging         additional entranceways;     -   enhanced reliability thanks to the duplicating system of         automation and major mechanized drives.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention substance of the offered modular multi-storey robotized car park is explained below with reference to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a general view of a modular multi-storey robotized car park;

FIG. 2 illustrates a working module taken apart;

FIG. 3 presents a version of a working module put together;

FIG. 4 is a sample of a car park comprising several modules;

A modular underground multi-storey robotized car park comprises a working module 1, a service module 2, a robotized drive mechanism 3, a stationary casing 4.

A working module (FIG. 2) includes a movable frame (5) being arranged inside an immovable frame (6) on guides in such a way as to enable a reciprocal movement in the vertical direction.

A movable frame (5) comprises at least one upper and one lower supporting platform (8 and 16) for car placement.

A movable frame (5) can be supplied with counterbalances (there's no reference to the drawing) in order to provide easier lifting/lowering processes. The upper supporting platform (8) is initially located on the ground level.

To provide accurate car positioning supporting platforms can be supplied with angular limiters (9) and speed humps (10) that are located in accordance with the external dimensions (length, width, wheelbase, front and rear body overhangs) of the largest mass-manufactured vehicle.

The lower parts of immovable frames (6) are provided with entranceways in the form of the guides.

The guiding entranceways (11) of the adjacent frames are interconnected for lifting/lowering robotized drive mechanism (3) of a movable frame to be moved and positioned and provide a tunnel (12) formed by a cement/concrete screed (15) and a lower platform for car parking.

A robotized drive mechanism (3) consists of a lifting mechanism (13) for the frame lifting/lowering being arranged on a movable platform (14) with the option of interaction with a movable frame (5) of the corresponding working module (1).

The mechanism is supplied with duplicating drives of lifting and positioning in order to prevent a sudden fault or a failure (there's no reference to the drawing).

A service module (2) differs from a working module in that the former does not have a movable frame and is intended for automated system placement and facility maintenance as well as for the evacuation in cases of emergency.

Modules 1 and 2 are arranged on a cement/concrete screed (15) of a previously excavated foundation pit, e.g. a car park with two levels of supporting platforms requires such pit to be not less than 3.5 m (11,483 ft.) deep: 2 m (6,562 ft.) for car parking on the lower level and 1.5 m (4,921 ft.) for a service tunnel.

A stationary casing (4) forms a rigid framework along the perimeter of the facility which is filled with a concrete/cement mix after modules arrangement and is provided with waterproof insulation (there's no reference to the drawing) protecting the facility from the environment.

A car park can be supplied with a drainage protecting it against precipitation (there's no reference to the drawing).

The invention offered is a uniformed modular system and in its preferable option comprises several working modules (FIG. 4).

The facility is completely automated and there's no need for operator attendance.

Each working module (FIG. 1) is provided with a remote control of frame lifting/lowering robotized drive mechanism (there's no reference to the drawing) , the one being a short-range for security reasons.

Each owner of an underground parking place is given a remote control (there's no reference to the drawing).

Cars are parked on the upper (ground) level in the ordinary manner, without using any mechanisms, as if it were an ordinary car park.

The offered modular multi-storey robotized car park is operated as follows (FIG. 4):

For parking on the underground level a car driver proceeds to his/her working module (1). A robotized drive mechanism (3) is actuated by a remote control.

A robotized drive mechanism (3) is sliding under the lower supporting platform (16) of the working module (1) along the entranceways (11) of the tunnel (12) and therefore is lifting a movable frame (5) so that the lower supporting platform (16) might be lifted up to the ground level.

Then a car driver proceeds to the lower supporting platform (16) and leaves the car.

A lifting mechanism (13) is given a remote control command to make a movable frame (5) of the working module (1) move down to its initial position.

Cars are parked on the upper supporting platforms as if it were an ordinary car park.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The offered system of a modular multi-storey robotized car park has the following advantages:

-   -   it is low-noise as all operating mechanisms are located under         the ground;—it is distinctive for its enhanced reliability given         the opportunity of duplication of the main mechanized drives and         automatic equipment;     -   it enables the capacity increase of already existing car parks         without an extension of outside space and does not require         additional entranceway arrangements.

In addition, the system offered allows setting a multi-storey car park promptly on densely built-up urban territories without expensive car park planning and engineering surveys and changes of the city architectural and historical look. 

1. A modular parking lot containing at least one module for vehicle parking and a hoist is distinctive in that its car park module is in the form of at least two working modules (1), each of which comprises a movable frame (5) with at least one upper and one lower supporting platform (8) arranged inside an immovable frame (6) on guides (7) in such a way as to enable a reciprocal movement in vertical direction, wherein the upper and lower supporting platforms (8) of the movable frame (5) are equipped with stops for limiting the movement of the vehicle, while a hoist is in the form of a robotized drive mechanism (3), which is arranged on the movable platform (14), which is installed at the entranceways (11), provided on the lower part (16) of the immovable frame (6), in a tunnel (12) formed beneath the lower supporting platforms, with the option of interacting with any of the working modules (1) so as to actuate said modules.
 2. A modular car park according to point 1 is distinctive in that a movable frame (5) of a working module (1) is additionally supplied with counterbalances.
 3. A modular car park according to point 1 is distinctive in that at least one stop for limiting the movement of the vehicle is in the form of an angular limiter (9), and at least one stop (10) is horizontal like a “speed hump”.
 4. A modular car park according to points 1 is distinctive in that a robotized drive mechanism is supplied with duplicating drives of mechanism lifting and positioning.
 5. A modular car park according to point 1 is distinctive in that it additionally comprises at least one service module (2) intended for the facility maintenance as well as for the evacuation in cases of emergency
 6. A modular parking according to point 1 is distinctive in that a rigid framework coated with water-proof insulation is laid along the perimeter of the facility. 